Tenpin conveyer



Oct. 3, 1933.

F. J. JOHNSON TENPIN CONVEYER Filed Jan. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 3, 1933. F. J. JOHNSON TENPIN CONVEYER Filed Jan. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a P a 0 Patented Oct. 3, v 1933 TENPIN CONVEYER Frederick J. Johnson, Big Bay, Mich., assignor to The Brunswick-Balke-Oollender Company,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application January 19, 1932. Serial No. 587,553

.1 Claim. (Cl. 9155) This invention relates to improvements in conveyer equipment and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for efliciently conveying tenpins through spray booths, dry- I ing kilns, and similar devices.

One of the important objects of this invention is the automatic rotation of the tenpins While passing through the spray booths so that all surfaces of said tenpins are so exposed as to re- 1 ceive an even coating of paint, lacquer or the like.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of means for conveying the tenpins from the spray booth directly into the drying kiln without removing said tenpins from the carrier chain.

'A still further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the tenpins may be removed from the carrier-while the same is in motion and without interfering in any way with the proper continuous action of the conveyer.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a general layout of the invention, showing the locations of the spray booths and the drying kilns with reference to the conveyer itself and the course followed by the tenpins during the various operations thereon.

Fig. 2 is a view of the conveyer near the spray booth, showing the methods of driving the chain, carrying the tenpins, and the spindle driving belt.

Fig. 3 is a viewof the conveyer adjacent a weighing scales showing the guard rail for holding the spindles in place whilethe tenpins are removed therefrom.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the conveyer chain, showing the method of attaching spindles thereon.

As shown in the drawings: 7

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the driven conveyer chain which is supported by a number of rolls 14 placed at strategic points to prevent said chain 10 from sagging or running off the sprockets 28 or guide pulleys 30.

One of the sprockets 28 is driven by a suitable power mechanism shown diagrammatically at 38.

The conveyer chain passes before spray booths 24 and through a drying kiln 26. The spray booths have exhaust blower pipes 27 thereon.

A plurality of spindles 12 for. receiving and holding tenpins 32 or the like are located at intervals on the conveyer chain 10. A guard rail 16 is so located as to maintain said spindles 12 in an uprightposition while the conveyer is in operation.

Directly in front of a spray booth 24 is a power driven friction belt 18 aligned parallel to the chain 10, the function of said belt 18 being to engage and rotate the spindles 12, with tenpins or the like mounted thereon, as the same are passed before said spray booth 24. The resultant rotation of the tenpins 32 provides an even coating of lacquer, paint, shellac, or the like, on all sides of said tenpins from a spray nozzle held by operator in front of the booth. The booth prevents the spray from spreading undesirably.

A series of springs 20 are so located in front of the spray booth that the belt 18 is held in positive constant contact with the spindles 12 as the same move past the spray booth.

Upon entering the drying kiln 26 the conveyer chain 10 follows a course whereby the tenpins 32 are exposed to heat or drying units, sumcient in number and intensity to properly dry the coating of lacquer, paint, shellac, or the like. 1

At asection of the conveyer route designated for the removal of the tenpins 32 a guard rail 22 is placed to resist any upward pull on the spindles 12, and holds said spindles in place on the chain, and also holds the chain in place during the removal of the tenpins, which are then weighed on the scale 34.

It will be evident that herein is provided a combination for the handling of tenpins, for the above operations, that is economical, useful and efficient, in that the pins are uniformly sprayed,

accurately dried, both with reference to amount of heat and time of drying, and all without any manual handling which might spoil the finish.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

A tenpin sprayer and drier, comprising a pin carrier chain, freely rotating spindles thereon, said spindles adapted to receive and hold tenpins, guide rails to hold the spindles in a vertical position, a plurality of supporting rolls for carrying the chain sprockets for driving and guiding the chain, and spray booths and a drying kiln along the length of the chain, together with a power-driven belt for contacting and rotating the spindles while passing the spray booths, a

series of springs behind the belt to insure contact between said belt and the spindles when passing the spray booths, and means for positively retaining the chain on the sprockets and guide pulleys while the tenpins are being removed therefrom.

FREDERICK J. JOHNSON. 

